Kids

Kids health

Here’s why banning peanuts in schools might not be the best answer

Here’s why banning peanuts in schools might not be the best answer

Opponents argue that food bans create a false sense of security and don’t keep kids safe. Is it time to put food-ban discussions back on the menu?

Emily Senger

What you need to know about managing your child’s asthma

What you need to know about managing your child’s asthma

Asthma shouldn’t stop kids from living healthy, active lives—if the condition is properly managed with medicine.

Claire Gagne

How to use your child's inhaler properly

How to use your child's inhaler properly

Does your child need to use an inhaler for asthma? Here’s how to make sure you and your child are using it right so they get the medicine they need.

Claire Gagne

When my kid gave me lice I had a meltdown

When my kid gave me lice I had a meltdown

I thought it couldn’t get worse when my daughter got head lice…and then I found a bug in my hair!

Sarah Garone

Is there something more serious going on with your picky eater?

Is there something more serious going on with your picky eater?

Lots of kids go through picky eating phases. But sometimes, a child's food issues are actually symptoms of an eating disorder called ARFID.

Lisa Kadane

What we know about the rise of the polio-like condition acute flaccid myelitis

What we know about the rise of the polio-like condition acute flaccid myelitis

A rare condition is sending kids to the hospital with weak or paralyzed limbs. We asked the paediatrician-in-chief at SickKids what you need to know.

Jill Buchner

Do snacks ‘made with real veggies’ count as vegetables?

Do snacks ‘made with real veggies’ count as vegetables?

Many packaged snacks that are marketed to kids claim to contain real vegetables. A dietitian breaks down what that really means.

Cara Rosenbloom

Why it's time to bring back classic toys

Why it's time to bring back classic toys

With kids surrounded by screens, it can be hard to get back to dolls and building blocks; but here's why you should embrace the benefits of open-ended toys.

Claire Gagne

When can kids wear contact lenses?

When can kids wear contact lenses?

Glasses can be a pain for active kids, but contact lenses bring a lot of responsibility. Optometrists explain how to determine what's best for your kid.

Jill Buchner

Transgender kids know their gender and the AAP says doctors should offer care accordingly

Transgender kids know their gender and the AAP says doctors should offer care accordingly

A new statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics promotes gender-affirmative care, where doctors accept a transgender child and offer support.

Jill Buchner

10 nutrition myths even your paediatrician believes

10 nutrition myths even your paediatrician believes

There are all kinds of rules about what to feed your kid when they’re sick or how to get them to a healthy weight. These are the ones that just aren’t true.

Today's Parent

Depression is on the rise in kids—but the signs are hard to recognize

Depression is on the rise in kids—but the signs are hard to recognize

An increasing number of kids are struggling with depression, often when they're too young to communicate what they're feeling. Here's what you need to know.

Jill Buchner

5 strategies for talking to your child about their mental health

5 strategies for talking to your child about their mental health

Whether your child is struggling with depression or you want to be proactive before a problem arises, these guidelines can help start the conversation.

Jill Buchner

We need an up-to-date sex-ed curriculum: A teacher, paediatrician and sex educator weigh in

We need an up-to-date sex-ed curriculum: A teacher, paediatrician and sex educator weigh in

The Conservative government has given teachers an interim sex-ed curriculum, but it's still missing essential topics like consent.

Amanda Lee

Should you let your child undergo anaesthesia for a dental procedures?

Should you let your child undergo anaesthesia for a dental procedures?

Sedation is commonly used for dental procedures in kids—even for fillings. Here's what you need to know before the dentist puts your child under.

Anna Sharratt

What rep sports are really doing to kids

What rep sports are really doing to kids

In the drive to produce the next pro athlete, kids are being funnelled into competitive sports, which leads to big bills and even bigger expectations.

Courtney Shea

Is your child at risk for overuse injuries from sports?

Is your child at risk for overuse injuries from sports?

Repeating the same movements—as your child might do if they play a position in a specialized sport—can lead to injuries. Here's what you need to know.

Courtney Shea

How to handle the pressure on kids in sports

How to handle the pressure on kids in sports

Win or lose, your post-game parenting can help shape how your child copes with the competition. Try these tips to relieve the pressure.

Courtney Shea

The terrifying uncertainty of having a child with an illness that changes every day

The terrifying uncertainty of having a child with an illness that changes every day

At first, my son had an unknown illness. Then, when he finally got a diagnosis, we learned we would be dealing with the unknown for the rest of his life.

Amy Neyer

Everything you need to know about over-the-counter painkillers for kids

Everything you need to know about over-the-counter painkillers for kids

When your child is in pain, you want to do everything you can to help, but it’s important to use caution with painkillers. Here’s what you need to know.

Dr. Dina Kulik